Gateshead have been withdrawn from the Vanarama National League play-offs after failing to meet the entry criteria for membership into the Football League.

The north-east club finished sixth in the National League standings and were poised for a trip to Solihull Moors on Tuesday, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Barnet on Saturday.

But because Gateshead were unable to meet the 10-year security of tenure at the Gateshead International Stadium, Solihull have instead been handed a bye directly into next weekend’s clash against the Bees.

Gateshead lobbied its town council, which owns the stadium, to provide the security of tenure and after that was turned down, the National League wrote in support of the club’s application.

A National League statement said “the response received was not supportive of the club’s requirements” and while options were offered to the club by the council, this was unsatisfactory for the EFL.

An EFL statement said: “Gateshead Football Club will not be permitted by the National League to participate in this season’s play-offs as the terms of the club’s occupation at the Gateshead International Stadium, owned by the Borough Council of Gateshead, does not meet the relevant qualifying criteria to enable the club to become a Member of the EFL.

“All other clubs permitted to play in the National League play-offs adhered to the requirements as set out in EFL regulations.”

Gateshead lodged an appeal, backed by the National League, against the “irrational or unreasonable” decision but the EFL confirmed that “has now been rejected after consideration by an independent arbitrator”.

The National League said it is “disappointed with the decision” but “recognise the entry requirements are clearly stated in the EFL rules”.

Gateshead, who are set to play Solihull Moors in the FA Trophy final on May 11, say they are “extremely disappointed” and will continue to object to both the National League and EFL on the outcome.

A club statement said: “Rest assured we will continue to challenge both on their decisions and we will endeavour to ensure that footballing matters are decided on the pitch.

“Our players and staff remain 100 per cent focused on the task in hand and we wish to go on record to express our gratitude to National League for supporting our challenge to the EFL.”

Aldershot rescued a point in a 3-3 draw at Dagenham but missed out on a National League play-off spot.

Daggers striker Inih Effiong opened the scoring in the 34th minute, slamming home his 16th league goal of the season from Josh Hare’s cutback.

Aldershot were awarded a penalty at the start of the second half when Elliott Johnson brought down Kwame Thomas.

The Shots forward looked to be in an offside position and both managers were booked as tempers flared, but Cian Harries kept his cool to convert the spot-kick.

Dagenham boss Ben Strevens was then shown a red card before Lorent Tolaj headed the visitors in front in the 72nd minute.

Ryan Hill finished off a swift counter-attack to pull the home side level with eight minutes left and after Effiong was denied by the woodwork, the Daggers thought they had won it through Dion Pereira’s strike.

There was still time for Aldershot to level, though, as Josh Barrett found the top corner with a free-kick.

Ollie Banks scored a late winner as champions Chesterfield ended their time in the National League with a 3-2 victory over Maidenhead in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,108 at the SMH Group Stadium.

The Spireites, having lost four consecutive games since sealing promotion back to the English Football League last month, were 2-0 ahead after half an hour.

Joe Quigley’s fine work helped Liam Mandeville poke in from close range in the 28th minute before the forward got on the scoresheet himself shortly after, firing home after a goal-mouth scramble.

However, Maidenhead came out firing after the interval and were level courtesy of two goals in three minutes, with Tristan Abrahams slotting into an empty net after Harry Tyrer parried Reece Smith’s shot and then Kevin Lokko heading in.

But after Tom Naylor had a goal disallowed and Armando Dobra hit the post, Chesterfield finally found a winner at the death when Banks hammered in.

Altrincham booked a home tie in the play-offs as they beat Oxford City 1-0 on the final day.

With City long since relegated, Alty knew it was the perfect chance to set up their post-season and they did so thanks to Regan Linney’s first-half goal.

Elliot Newby had already gone close when the opener came, with Newby tripped in the box allowing Linney to convert three minutes before half-time.

Chris Conn-Clarke almost added a second after the break but Altrincham had done enough.

FC Halifax thrashed Eastleigh 3-0 to secure their Vanarama National League play-off place.

Adan George put the visitors ahead after 27 minutes and they had a goal disallowed before Paul McCallum fired wide for Eastleigh shortly after the break.

Jamie Cooke’s composed finish doubled Halifax’s lead after 62 minutes.

Max Wright added a third 20 minutes from time as Town ensured Aldershot and Southend were unable to pip them to the last play-off spot.

Wealdstone secured their National League survival with a 3-2 win at Oldham.

Mike Fondop put the Latics in front with a close-range header in the 17th minute, but Jack Young immediately responded three minutes into the second half with a header to draw level.

The Stones took the lead just six minutes later when Sam Bowen’s deflected effort went in, but Fondop scored his second of the game to level, smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Mason Barrett ensured Wealdstone’s survival after firing them ahead in the 75th minute, while Oldham finish 10th in the table.

Devante Rodney struck late to hand Rochdale a 2-1 comeback win at Southend on the final day of the National League season.

The Shrimpers needed just seven minutes to force their way ahead when they worked the ball from the back for Jack Bridge to send a cross to the far post, where Gus Scott-Morriss slid it home.

Danny Waldron might have doubled the lead within seconds but fired over before Bridge curled an attempt just too high and Dale were level three minutes before the break when Cian Hayes dispossessed Ollie Kensdale and rounded keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi to score.

Rodney fired just over four minutes after the restart before playing in Kairo Mitchell to shoot inches wide with the visitors pressing once again.

Rodney sent another effort past the post as time ran down but he made no mistake after being played in by Ian Henderson in stoppage time.

York avoided National League relegation despite losing 1-0 at promotion hopefuls Solihull Moors.

Moors came close in the first half when Jamey Osborne had a chance from 25 yards but it was easily caught by visiting goalkeeper Rory Watson before Joe Newton’s effort flew just wide of the post.

They continued to threaten after the break when Newton’s dangerous cross was cleared before Watson was forced into another save.

Jack Stevens eventually found the breakthrough for Solihull in the 87th minute, smashing the ball into the top corner from Callum Maycock’s cross, meaning they finished fifth in the play-off spots.

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe took his season goal tally to 25 with a brace in Hartlepool’s entertaining 4-3 victory against relegated Dorking.

The Wanderers took a seventh-minute lead through Charlie Carter as they looked to end a 10-match winless run in the National League.

But Dieseruvwe twice found the far top corner from the left edge of the penalty area, either side of Barry Fuller’s own goal, to give Pools a 3-1 half-time lead.

Dorking responded six minutes into the second period with a wonderful individual effort from Jimmy Muitt but Joe Grey lashed home soon after to restore the two-goal advantage.

Muitt slotted home his second with 13 minutes left but Pools withstood some late pressure to clinch a top-half finish.

Boreham Wood were condemned to relegation after being held to a goalless draw by Ebbsfleet.

The Wood went close on four minutes when Jack Payne’s shot was deflected wide after a goalmouth scramble but posed little threat for the remainder of the first half.

Boreham Wood had the ball in the net just before the hour mark but referee Robert Massey-Ellis blew for a foul on Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins.

Dominic Poleon pounced on a loose ball in the 63rd minute but Boreham Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore got down quickly to make the save.

Ben Chapman passed up a great chance to fire Ebbsfleet ahead five minutes from time, slicing wide with only Ashmore to beat after being set up by Poleon, and Ashmore pulled off a smart save to deny Dominic Samuel in the 89th minute.

Gateshead came from behind to beat Vanarama National League play-off rivals Bromley 2-1 at Gateshead International Stadium.

Olufela Olomola netted the opener for the visitors after 12 minutes. Kamarl Grant picked out Myles Weston, whose cross was converted by the former Scunthorpe forward.

Bromley had the chance to double their lead when Jude Arthurs went down in the box but Louis Dennis’ effort from the spot was saved by James Montgomery.

Greg Olley scored the equaliser 12 minutes from time and Gateshead hit the post through Kain Adom before Louis Storey grabbed the winner two minutes from time.

Tunji Akinola’s double helped to ensure Woking’s place in next season’s National League as they ended the campaign with a 3-0 home victory over AFC Fylde.

Jayden Luker, Jermaine Anderson and Dan Moss all went close for the home side, but they had to wait until first-half stoppage time to go ahead when Akinola stabbed home Curtis Edwards’ free-kick.

Rhys Browne fired just wide after linking up with Luker as the game got back under way, but it was Akinola who doubled the home side’s advantage after 51 minutes when he chested down a corner at the far post before finding the net.

Fylde goalkeeper Chris Neal did well to keep out Charley Kendall’s low strike, but there was nothing he could do to about Kevin Berkoe’s 77th-minute piledriver that made it 3-0.

Barnet prepared for the play-offs with a final-day 4-1 drubbing of already-relegated Kidderminster.

Nicke Kabamba had already gone close for Barnet when they took the lead 33 minutes in.

A corner found Danny Collinge and he put a header away for his ninth of the season.

Chances continued to present themselves to the home side and a minute before the break Kabamba drilled in his 29th of the season.

If the outcome was in doubt at the break, it was not three minutes later as Luke Freeman made it three.

Kidderminster pulled a goal back on the hour through Charlie Weston but Idris Kanu added a last-minute fourth.

Derby will look to clinch promotion on Saturday, while Fleetwood, Port Vale and Sutton seek to keep their battles against relegation alive.

Nothing will be decided this weekend in the Premier League or Championship, but there is plenty at stake in the lower two tiers of the EFL, while the National League regular season concludes at Saturday lunchtime.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the issues in play.

League One

Portsmouth have sealed the title and Derby will go up with them if they better both Bolton and Peterborough’s results. The Rams travel to Cambridge on Saturday, while Bolton host Port Vale and Posh are at Bristol Rovers.

Barnsley will clinch a play-off spot if they avoid defeat to Blackpool and match Lincoln’s result against Cheltenham, as will Oxford if they beat Stevenage on Friday night and Lincoln and Blackpool then both drop points.

Fleetwood will be down unless they beat Leyton Orient, Burton lose to Reading and Cheltenham do not win. Port Vale are also vulnerable if they fail to match Burton’s result, or if they lose and Cheltenham win.

League Two

Sutton will be relegated if they lose or if Colchester match their result – if both win, it would additionally take a point for Grimsby to seal Sutton’s fate on Saturday.

Victory for Crewe would see them lock up a play-off place and the same is true for Barrow if either Crawley or Walsall drop points. Crewe’s place could also be confirmed if two of Crawley, Walsall and Doncaster – the latter of whom play Barrow – fail to win.

National League

The final weekend of the regular season sees the last play-off place up for grabs between FC Halifax Town, Aldershot and Southend.

Victory for Halifax against Eastleigh would clinch their place, barring a ridiculous goal difference swing to Aldershot – they would have to hammer Dagenham and Redbridge by at least 15, so will more realistically be hoping to better Halifax’s result. Should both teams lose, Southend’s superior goal difference means a win over Rochdale would see them in.

Boreham Wood need a win, coupled with dropped points for any of Woking, Ebbsfleet, York or Wealdstone, to avoid relegation. A draw could be enough for Wood, but only if Woking lose by five goals at home to Fylde.

FC Halifax moved back into the play-off places in the National League as Adan George rescued a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Oldham.

The visitors took the lead in the 18th minute through Dan Gardner’s half-volley from a corner before Rob Harker levelled for the home side a minute into first-half stoppage time, smashing the ball home.

Oldham were awarded a penalty when Joe Garner was fouled in the box and Gardner restored Latics’ lead from the penalty spot in the 58th minute, but The Shaymen levelled again in the 72nd minute through substitute George’s smart finish from a narrow angle.

Halifax climb back into the play-off spots on goal difference where they are tied on 68 points with Aldershot, while Oldham remain 10th.